$150M Hardeeville retail, residential development planned

A Hilton Head developer plans to invest $150 million in a mixed-use development in Hardeeville that once built out will employ about 600 people.

Gateway Development Partners and local officials from the city of Hardeeville and Jasper County announced plans Friday for a 300-acre, three-phase project called Gateway Crossing. The development is planned for a site off Interstate 95 at Exit 5 on Frontage Road and U.S. 17.

Charles Washington, director of operations/marketing sales for Gateway, said the majority of the land is owned by Gateway and that they hope to break ground by mid-2012 on the 413,000 square feet of commerical and residential space that will be built out in three phases over seven to eight years.

Washington said the project is a private-public partnership and that the city of Hardeeville and Jasper County officials have been instrumental in making the vision become reality.

Hardeeville Mayor Bronco Bostick said the project is one they were all looking for. “It means affordable homes. And it’s a joint effort between council and Jasper County,” he said.

Bostick said they plan to pursue tax increment financing for the project.

TIF is a financing method that uses future gains in taxes to finance current improvements.

Bostick said they don’t have a dollar amount of how much they plan in TIF because Hardeeville and Jasper just started talking about it.

“We’re very pleased with this project. We want to bring jobs, better jobs, to the community. We welcome any development to our region,” Bostick said.

Washington said the need for affordable housing in Hardeeville and Jasper and Beaufort counties was a top consideration for his company.

Initially, the project was going to be all residential, but after input from Hardeeville and Jasper officials about the project, the mixed-use intent was a better option, said Washington. He also said a 2008 study by Jasper validated the decision to provide retail and residential space.

“This is huge for Hardeeville. And we’re excited to be able to bring it to Hardeeville,” Washington said.

The first phase will have a rental property and what Washington calls a village center. It will be a mix of residential, retail and commerical. Plans call for a grocery store, a couple of outparcels for local shops and/or restaurants and a public pavilion.

Washington could not comment on what tenants have been signed, but said those commitments would be announced within 90 days.

Gateway Crossing’s location near Bluffton, Hilton Head, Savannah and other locations was another selling point of the project, Washington said.

About 79 affordable units will be sold and there will be 435 affordable rental units. The rental units will be developed in the first phase. This phase includes single-family units, multi-family units, town homes and patio homes.

A retirement village also is planned.

Gateway Crossing will have a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC). This community will include:

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